IN THE PRESS

Major Landblom had the honor of being the last Marine to fly an active duty (fleet deployable) CH-46, and what he did not know, was that there was a young enlisted Marine who had climb to the top of #19 with a 5 gallon bucket of water for a special celebration of this historical moment. When Major Landblom exited the aircraft, he was greeted by the a huge applause and cheers from his fellow Marines and unknowingly, a cold shower of water over his entire body.

More than 2,000 U.S. Marines have joined with about 1,500 Japan Self-Defense Force troops to support the first iteration of exercise Northern Viper 2017 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, and on the nearby island of Hokkaido.

"Just being part of this legacy is a very powerful honor. This aircraft has done more than what was planned for it," said Maj. Eric Landblom, 41, of Dickinson, N.D., who piloted the historic aircraft during the air show.

The former infantry rifleman deployed three times to Iraq to fly casualty evacuation missions with the "Purple Foxes" squadron. Those were the most difficult and most rewarding moments of his military career, he said.

"Just by looking at your log books and how many busy days you had … you realize how many of those single missions added up to a fairly good-sized population of people who you contributed to saving their lives. Saving eyes, limbs," he said.

For the past three weeks, Misawa Air Base, Japan, hosted U.S. Marines with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing during Northern Viper 2017, an annual joint contingency exercise that tests the interoperability and bilateral capability of the Japan Self-Defense Force and U.S. Marine Corps forces. The exercise took place at Misawa AB and on the nearby island of Hokkaido, August 10-28, 2017.